It is estimated that 1.79 billion people purchased something online last year. Therefore, running an e-commerce company is an excellent way to make money in today’s world. There are many expenses associated with running an online store, including shipping costs. You need a reliable way to deliver orders to your patrons, so you cannot afford to function without a reliable shipping strategy. Luckily, there are many ways to reduce your shipping costs and enjoy more profits as an online business owner. Here’s how to reduce your e-commerce company’s shipping costs.
- Consider LTL freight shipping
Less-than-truckload (LTL) freight shipping is an affordable, reliable, and effective method for transporting freight. It is worth considering when transporting small freight or goods that don’t require the use of one whole trailer. Under LTL freight shipping, your goods share space in the trailer with other cargo (capacity sharing.) As such, you only pay for the space your freight occupies, and the other shippers cover the rest of the costs. This arrangement can drastically lower your shipping costs, helping you save money. In addition, reliable LTL freight shipping is fast and customizable to suit your specific needs.
Offer local delivery and pickup options
You can avoid using a courier altogether to reduce or eliminate your shipping costs. Increased local shopping is one of the best things to come out of the pandemic, with more people shopping from local and independent businesses. Indeed, a Mint survey revealed that 70% of Americans support local companies by shopping online only, or a blend of online and in-store. Therefore, give customers the option of dropping by your store or home-based business to pick up their online orders or have you deliver them straight to their homes. Both options are less expensive than shipping with a courier, so you can save a lot of money. Besides, local delivery and pickup options improve the customer experience by eliminating variable costs and shipping delays.
Lighten your packages
Weight is money in the shipping industry, so you can expect to pay more when transporting heavier cargo. You may pay just a few cents per package, but those cents can add up after hundreds or thousands of packages, increasing spending if you ship regularly. Consequently, consider investing in lightweight packaging to reduce shipping costs and improve profit margins. You can lessen the weight of packages by packing your products in corrugated boxes. These boxes are stronger and lighter than your average card box. Also, you can use other lightweight packaging materials like bubble wrap and air pillows.
Shop around for cheaper rates
In the vibrant and competitive e-commerce sector, there’s almost a guarantee that at least one competitor is selling at a lower price. This reality can sometimes be frustrating as a merchant, but not when you are the one seeking the best price. Competitive pricing is also present in the shipping industry, and the various providers will often do all they can to outshine their rivals. Therefore, shop around for better shipping rates at least once yearly to find the most affordable provider for your company.
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